Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-10

lEANhEA
The lively young man who had taught the
Lnwood school three winters had accumu-
lated savings enough from this honest indus
try TO begin the study of law Accordingly,
the school was left without teacher One
day stranger brought letter to the Pres
byterian minister, applying for the vacant
place. After some delay 1t was given him.
He was OF slender, though athletic build, with
dark hair and dark gray eyes. His face was
fine, strong one, full Of will and intelligence;
but it was not q peaceful face nor face at
rest
In the center of the shabby village was the
grocery-common club room for the male
goSsips of the neighborhood Travellers knew
it was tho grocery by token that it had box
Of blacking and two clothes pins in the win
dow. The stranger teacher had little room
over this shop. He was quite solitary at first.
OF evenings he staid alone in this room and
played violin, sometimes far into the night.
or afternoons, after school, he took long
walks over the country roads and paths.
Rain or shine, it was his habit. Indeed, he
rather seemed to enjoy walk in the rain,
against the wind, with the storm beating in
his face He appeared more calm and happy
after five mile tramp in rough weather. At
such times the people in the house heard him
often singing to himself, in q singularly deep,
sweet voice, songs in an unknown tongue.
The impression of the strangers dread and
mysterious learning had so deepened in few
months, that the simple country people de-
clared he sang in Hebrew. But farmer
from over seas told them the words were
German. 1t was the folk song of Germany
the new teacher sang. Thereupon the grocer,
with the air of one announcing great truth,
said:
"Hes Dutchman!"
Once, after fierce walk, George Morrison,
quite exhausted, threw himself full length
upon the carpet in his little room, with pill
low under his head. He thought at first to
doze, but the stovepipe hole in the floor was o
telelephone, bringing unerTingly to his sensi-
tive ear every word spoken in the rustic shop
below. He knew just how the male gossips
were grouped There was the Squire, who
sat on barrel head. There were the shoe
maker and the postmaster There was the
lazy grocer himself, who sat upon an up
turned empty soap box most of tho time and
let his wiry little wife wait upon the GUS
toners.
At length Jim Sweet said:
"That there new schoolmaster amt much
account, reckon. He's too darned gram
matical."
II heerd him whip out the Presbyterian
preacher in argument t'other day." said the
postmaster
Now Simpkins, the grocer, struck in He
had listened to all the rest first. He had q
solemn way Of stating a stupid old fact as if
it had been great new truth. He was, there
fore, esteemed man of very profound iudg-
ment by everybody but his own wife. She
saw through her husbands humbug, as
wives, alas! too often do. Simpkins said,
solemnly:
"lt's my opinion man that can outargify
the Presbyterian minister amt q safe person
to be trusted with the edication of our little
ones. It's my opinion, further, that the
schoolmaster's got somethin' on his mind.
Them close he wears amt Linwood cut It's
my opinion he's come from somewhere, and
come down in the world. It's my opin-
ion"-
"Your opinion, Sim Smpkins!" exclaimed
his wiry little partner, contemptuously. off
the schoolmastcr's got something on his mind,
it'd better be that than not to have any mind
at all. They say he's come down in the
world, do they' What Of it9 I've heerd say
it was better to be dead lion than live jack
ass Amt the Carstone children going to
school to him, every one of em? A mans
good enough to teach my children, if he's
good enough to teach them. They're a man.
neredly family, from the Oldest to the young
est, that they are!"
But the new master won the hearts of the
children right speedily. There were an ex-
quisite patience and kindlincss in his ways
toward them, as though something had
schooled him through years to think of others
rather than himself, and those others weak
and childish. He had said lie was "a years
DID, but hc looked years older. 1t was easy
to sec he had been born in different sphere
from the people he had come among. Even
Jim Sweet recognized tho fine high bred
ways that separated him from Linwood folk
But it was true that he had something on
his mind. He was unhappy and wretchedly
discontented He had sought Linwood to be
out Of the world, and, having his wish, he
found, us many do, that his wish was lust
what he did not want. Tho coarseness, the
stolid self conceit, the prying curiosity, the
illlteracy of the Linwood people chafed his
soul till he was like tiger behind bars Oh,
what would bring forgetfulness?
lie had been in his new employ only two
months, yet he had grown weary and reck-
less In week more he would resign his
place, he said to himself. In this mood he
went to his task one morning Entering the
school house his eye rested on a group of
handsome, tastefully dressed children Next
moment he saw that one, n girl, was older
and taller than the rest, and his wandering
eye was instantly arrested by her remarkable
beauty. The group were new pupils They
were the Carstone children, Shirley among
them. She lifted her eyes, and flash Of
recognition passed between the two souls, the
child and the master?
1t was day of beginning in the lives of
both.
This story has been very quiet thus far
Storm enough come later.
From that day there was more of peace in
the life of George Morrison. This girl pupil
understood his plans with an instant, sweet
recognition that surprised him. Gradually
better, more refining influence spread over
the rude school.
"Papa," said Shirley, "this new teacher has
opened a new world for u.s. Ask him to come
10 our house."
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